Originally denoting someone who mixed drugs or poisons—often for harmful purposes—this term evolved to describe practitioners of magic and sorcery. In biblical contexts, it consistently refers to those who engage in occult practices, manipulating spiritual forces through potions, spells, or incantations. The word carries strongly negative connotations, associating such practitioners with deception and rebellion against God. Revelation's use reflects the ancient world's blurred line between pharmacology and the occult.